Pneumatic device for forwarding filamentary material

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic forwarding device suitable for automatic string-up with a running band of material, especially in processes in which the pneumatic forwarding device is reciprocatably traversed, comprises two hinged sections which normally firmly abut with each other, the plane of their abutment intersecting with the internal passageway through which a band of continuous material is forwarded, but not intersecting with a passageway through which the forwarding fluid is induced into the device. Separation and close abutment of the sections of the forwarding devices is effected automatically by means of transducers which sense the position of the forwarding device relative to the running band of material.

United States Patent Brock [451 Oct. 17, 1972 [72] Inventor: James Brock, Pontypool, England [73] Assignee: Imperial Chemical Limited, London, England 22 Filed: Oct. 2, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 77,408

Industries [52] US. Cl ..226/91, 226/97 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 17/32 [58] Field of Search ..226/7, 97, 91, 92

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS De Bruin ..226/97 X Richter ..226/91 Bundy ..226/97 X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 571 ABSTRACT A pneumatic forwarding device suitable for automatic string-up with a running band of material, especially in processes in which the pneumatic forwarding device is reciprocatably traversed, comprises two hinged sections which normally firmly abut with each other, the plane of their abutment intersecting with the internal passageway through which a band of continuous material is forwarded, but not intersecting with a passageway through which the forwarding fluid is induced into the device. Separation and close abutment of the sections of the forwarding devices is effected automatically by means of transducers which sense the position of the forwarding device relative to the running band of material.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBBT 1 7 1972 3 6 98 6 1 2 sum 2 [IF 2 Inventor Zane PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR FORWARDING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL The invention relates to pneumatically powered devices for forwarding material in the form of a continuous band. More particularly it relates to pneumatically powered devices for forwarding filamentary material, such as continuous filaments, yarns and coherent slivers of staple fibers. Such devices will be referred to hereinafter as forwarding devices.

Pneumatic forwarding devices are well known in the production of filaments and fibers as a convenient means for handling rapidly advancing threadlines on various processing machines. Inter alia, they are employed for stringing-up spinning machines and drawtwist machines whilst the machine is running, and they thereby obviate the need to interrupt the motion of the machine while the string-up is carried out. In such cases, the filaments or threads passing through the forwarding device are generally wasted, the forwarding device being manually maneuvered so as to guide the advancing threadline around the various guides and rolls of the processing machine.

More recently, pneumatic forwarding devices have been put to a new use in the preparation of non-woven materials, in which at least one forwarding device is arranged to move relatively to a collecting surface and advances filaments from a suitable source, such as a creel or a melt-spinning machine, and deposits the filaments upon the collecting surface in a substantially random manner to form a sheet of filaments, which may be further treated to form a non-woven material. Such devices are to be preferred to, say, roller advancing means since the filaments are separated, from each other in the exhaust gas stream from the forwarding device and possibly additionally by static electricity induced thereon in their passage through the device, and improved non-woven materials have been found to be produced thereby.

The use of mechanically traversed pneumatic forwarding devices, however, introduces a major disadvantage in that the initial induction of, say, a threadline of continuous filaments into the device without arresting the motion of the device, is a difficult operation. To overcome this difficulty, pneumatic forwarding devices have been proposed which may be adjusted to provide a powerful suction at their induction end, thereby readily entraining filaments. Other devices have been proposed in which a slot extends along the length of the device so that a threadline may be maneuvered into the central channel of the forwarding device, and a slideable gate thereafter closed to completely enclose the threadline within the forwarding device.

Such prior art forwarding devices provided with string-up means have been satisfactory when the device is to be used for manual stringingup operations as described above and can therefore be held stationary whilst it is strung-up. However, when the forwarding device is mechanically handled, such as in the manufacture of a non-woven material in which the device is cyclically traversed above a collecting surface, the difficulty of string-up of the device without arresting the motion thereof is considerably increased.

We have now invented a pneumatic forwarding device and string-up means therefor, which overcomes the difficulties of stringing-up of moving forwarding devices. Accordingly, the invention provides a pneumatic forwarding device comprising an internal passageway passing therethrough and a fluid ingress passageway whereby pneumatic fluid may be introduced into said internal passageway by which filamentary material in the form of a threadline may be advanced, in which the forwarding device comprises two separable sections firmly abutting along a plane passing through the internal passageway of the forwarding device but not intersecting with said fluid ingress passageway, said sections being hingeably mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of said internal passageway, means for separating said sections to permit introduction of said threadline into said internal passageway, and means causing close abutment of said sections of said forwarding device so that said threadline may be totally enclosed within said internal passageway.

The forwarding device may be of any desired design provided that the requirement that the plane between the two hinged sections intersects with the internal passageway but not with the fluid ingress passageway is met.

In order to achieve firm abutment of the two hinged sections of the forwarding device, at least one section may be urged by spring-loaded means into close contact with the other section. The surfaces of the internal passageway of the forwarding device should be accurately machined to avoid sharp edges and asperities upon which the filamentary material may be snagged and the hinge mountings (and spring loading means if employed) should be designed so that the matching internal surfaces carried by both sections are always accurately aligned in order to again minimize the risk of snagging. Forwarding devices having an internal passageway of rectangular cross-section with the plane between the two hinged sections coplanar with a major side of the rectangular cross-section have been found to be of a convenient design by which the latter risk may be minimized. When the forwarding device of the invention is traversed mechanically, as for example in the manufacture of a non-woven web, it is convenient that one section of the device is firmly fixed to the traversing means. The second section is attached, preferably by spring-loaded means whereby close contact with the first section is assured to the hinge.

Alternatively, we have found that firm abutment of the two hinged sections can be achieved by manufacturing side plates from a deformable, elastic material. Suitable materials are synthetic rubbers, particularly polyurethane rubbers, which may be cast and ground accurately. In another embodiment, elastic seals may be provided adjacent to the walls defining the internal passageway, the seals preferably being firmly attached to one side plate.

The means of separation of, and for causing close abutment of the sections ofthe forwarding means, may

be manually operated, comprising a handle attached to one section. The opening means preferably includes a device, such as a cranked lever bearing on a spring loaded surface, whereby the two sections may be held firmly in contact without any tendency to open inadvertently. Alternatively, the opening and closure of the sections of the forwarding means may be readily automated, and an embodiment of this aspect of the invention is further illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a drive system for a pneumatic forwarding device;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the forwarding device of FIG. 1 taken on line lA-lA; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the system of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a traversing carriage.

As shown in FIG. 1 there is provided a cylinder 2 having inlet ports 4, 6 on opposite sides of piston 8 which is connected, by means of rod 10, sliding pin 12 and rod 14, to section 16, of forwarding means 18. Section 16 is joined to section of forwarding means 18 by hinged joint 22, section 20 being firmly affixed to means (not shown) of traversing the forwarding means 18. Pneumatic pressure is directed to either side of piston 8, via inlet ports 4, 6 as desired by means of spool valve 24 from pneumatic supply 26. Sensor valves 28, 30 are operable to switch spool 32 of spool valve 24 from one position to the other and so to direct pneumatic pressure to the appropriate side of piston 8, thereby opening or closing pneumatic forwarding means 18.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 1A the forwarding means 18 has an internal passageway 20a of rectangular cross section, and the plane between the section 20 and the section 16 is coplanar with one of the major sides of the rectangle. The section 20 is provided with a fluid in gress passageway 20b through which pneumatic fluid is introduced into the internal passageway 20a.

In operation, sensor valves 28 or 30 are opened momentarily allowing pneumatic pressure to be applied via tubing 34 or 34 to the appropriate end faces of spool 32. As illustrated, momentary activation of sensor valve 30 will force spool 32 from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines. Pneumatic pressure is thereby switched from inlet port 6 to inlet port 4 of cylinder 2, forcing piston 8 to move along cylinder 2 to the position shown in dotted lines and accordingly bringing sections 16, 20 of forwarding device 18 into contact. Further activation of sensor valve 30 has no effect on the system. Activation of sensor valve 28 reverses the sequence and separates sections 16, 20. Pressurized fluid in cylinder 2, upon switching the sense of spool valve 24, may exhaust via ports 4 or 6 to exhaust ports 36 or 38, respectively. Exhaust ports 36, 38 may be situated in the body of spool valve 24, as shown in FIG. 1, or alternatively may be positioned adjacent to inlets to spool valve 26 from tubing 34, 34'. As shown in full lines, port 6 is connected to pneumatic supply 26 and port 4 is connected to exhaust port 36.

Activation of sensor valves 28, 30 may be performed by any desired means although mechanical or electrical activation is convenient.

The invention permits automatic string-up of a forwarding device in a process in which a plurality of such devices is attached to a single traversing carriage, (as for instance described in our application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 825,841 filed May 19, 1969, now US.

' Pat. No. 3,660,867) without interrupting the traverse device 18, illustrated in detail in FIG. 1, is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4: sections 16, 20 of forwarding device 18, cylinder 2, and sensor valves 28, 20 are shown. The forwarding means and operating mechanism are transported on traversing mechanism (not shown). FIG. 2 shows string-up carriage 48 brought into the area of operation of the traversing mechanism. On approach of the traversing assembly to string-up carriage 48, sensor valve 28 is activated by contact with striker 50 attached to string-up carriage 48 to separate sections 16 and 20 of forwarding means 18. Threadline 40 is located by guides 44, 46 to correspond with the axial position of the internal.

passageway (not shown) of forwarding device 18.

FIG. 3 shows the position after threadline 40 has 1 become located in the internal passageway of forwarding device 18 and sensor valve 30 has been activated by contact with striker 50 to bring together sections 16, 20.

FIG. 4 shows the final stage after threadline 40 has been severed after passage through forwarding device 18, whereafter string-up carriage 48 may be withdrawn from the field of operation of the traversing mechanism. Filaments 52 are sprayed by forwarding device 18 on to collecting surface (not shown). Severing of threadline 40 may be automatic.

Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 employs apneumatically operated drive means for opening and closing the device, (this being a particularly useful arrangement since it is situated close to the pneumatic supply to the forwarding device), it will be appreciated that equivalent drive means can be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, an arrangement of electrically operated solenoids can readily be envisaged.

What we claim is:

1. A pneumatic forwarding device for forwarding a continuous band of material having an internal passageway passing therethrough and a fluid ingress passageway through which pneumatic fluid may be introduced into said internal passageway for advancing the band of material through said internal passageway, said device comprising two separable sections adapted to firmly abut along a plane passing through said internal passageway but not intersecting with said fluid ingress passageway, said sections being hingeably mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of said internal passageway, and means for selectively separating and closing said sections to permit introduction of said band of material into said internal passageway andto cause close abutment of said sections so that said band may be totally enclosed within said internal passageway.

2. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said sections are fabricated of an elastically deformable material.

3. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is a polyurethane rubber.

4. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein seals of an elastically deformably material define the edges of the internal passageway.

5. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for separating and closing said sections comprises a cranked lever with spring loaded means to hold the said sections in close abutting relationship.

r 6 6. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in 7. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 including drive means for said separating and claim 6 wherein the transducers are microswitches. closing means the operation of which is controlled by A D forwarding device as claimed in transducers which sense the position of the said device 9 6 whereirl the transducers are mechanically relative to the advancing band of material the path of 5 t'vated pneumatc valveswhich remains stationary in space. 

1. A pneumatic forwarding device for forwarding a continuous band of material having an internal passageway passing therethrough and a fluid ingress passageway through which pneumatic fluid may be introduced into said internal passageway for advancing the band of material through said internal passageway, said device comprising two separable sections adapted to firmly abut along a plane passing through said internal passageway but not intersecting with said fluid ingress passageway, said sections being hingeably mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of said internal passageway, and means for selectively separating and closing said sections to permit introduction of said band of material into said internal passageway and to cause close abutment of said sections so that said band may be totally enclosed within said internal passageway.
 2. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said sections are fabricated of an elastically deformable material.
 3. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is a polyurethane rubber.
 4. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein seals of an elastically deformably material define the edges of the internal passageway.
 5. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for separating and closing said sections comprises a cranked lever with spring loaded means to hold the said sections in close abutting relationship.
 6. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 1 including drive means for said separating and closing means the operation of which is controlled by transducers which sense the position of the said device relative to the advancing band of material the path of which remains stationary in space.
 7. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transducers are microswitches.
 8. A pneumatic forwarding device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transducers are mechanically activated pneumatic valves. 